John Bright’s Letter to a School Girl.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 942, 21 March 1890, Page 4

John Bright’s Letter to a School Girl.

Mr Bichard Tangye, the well-known engineer of Birmingham, has written an interesting volume of autobiography, which, under the title of ‘One aud All,’i3 published by Messrs S. W. Partridge and Co. In the course of it he gives the following interesting anecdote of the late Mr John Bright : During 1879 my eldest daughter was at school at Weston-super-Mare. Inheriting strong Radical opinions, she was greatly exercised at the pronounced Conservatism of some of her youthful school companions, who, attracted by her earnestness, were, not behindhand in exhibiting their ‘ principles.' They declared that Mr Disraeli was very mnch better than John Bright; while she indignantly protested that it was sufficient for anyone to compare their faces to enable them to come to a conclusion on that point. Things at length came to a crisis. and my daughter could bear it no longer; so without v consulting anyone she wrote a letter to John Bright, setting forth her grievances, and telling him that there were. Tory girls in the school who spoke very disrespectfully of him, and saying, too. that her father had told her what great things he (Mr Bright)-. had done for the people of England, adding that now she was able to judge for herself, for she had heard him (Me Bright) speak twice in the Birmingham Town Hall 1’ j My daughter never imagining for a moment that - Mr, Bright might have too many important engagements to permit of his jeplying to a schoolgirl’s letter, but in due tipae her faith was rewarded ,by receiving the following reply/ v. : ‘ 132. Piccadilly, London, 17th July, 1879. , ‘ My dear Mabel,—May I thus _addrebS you, though I do not know you, and have never seen you ? lam very much amused at your pleasant and interesting letter, which I have- read over several times ; and I can, in some degree, imagine the enthusiasm and the daring which led you, or. induced you, to write it. You think I have endeavoured to do some good things in- my public life which have been useful for our people, and especially for the poor among them, and your sympathy for them has made you think kindly of me. I like to think of this, and to think that many who arestrangers to me, and whom 1 have never seejn.aad perhaps may never see, can approve -of some things I have wished to do, or have done. lam glad you liked the great meeting at Birmingham. I hope it was. useful to many there, and to some who were not there. If our people knew more of what is good for them, they might bo much happier than they are ; they would have more comfortable |homes, and they would be able to secure for themselves a better Government ; we should have less of war, of ignorance, and poverty, and crime. ‘I have always wished for this, and have spoken earnestly for it. When you grow up, and have more influence than you have now, I hope it will always be used iu favour of justice, and mercy, and goodness ; and now, even among your schoolfellows, you can do some good if you wish to do it, which I do not for a moment doubt. ‘ If your papa has said to you, or in your hearing, anything kind of me, I ought to be grateful to him, and to thank him. It is something to be valued that good and usefulmen can judge me kindly. I am not quite sure that he will not rather wonder that you should write to me, a stranger to you ! I have written you rather a long letter in reply, and must conclude now by thanking you for your kind note, and by hoping that your holidays will be happy, and that in your school studies you may be successful;. Some time when "I see yon we may taLk about onr correspondence, and perhaps laugh at it. —ln the meantime, lam very sincerely, your friend, John Bright.’